Wussy, 'Left for Dead' (Shake It)

With 2005's country-fried debut, Funeral Dress, Wussy arrived just as quietly as Chuck Cleaver's previous band, '90s shoulda-beens Ass Ponys, exited. Cleaver's predilection for black humor and white trash remained, and he packed a secret weapon in co-conspirator Lisa Walker. On this more assured follow-up, Cleaver largely cedes the spotlight (and some songwriting) to now-girlfriend Walker, but the best moments come when his warbly chocolate falsetto mixes with her bruised peanut-butter alto. "Sun Giant Says Hey" is jubilant, while "What's-His-Name" sounds as peppy as it does bilious (read: very). Meanwhile, Walker's star turn on "Tiny Spiders" manages to be haunting and exalting at the same time.